NHL notes: Don Cherry back to coaching

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QMI Agency

Nov 29, 2012

, Last Updated: 2:54 AM ET

Don Cherry is getting back into coaching.

But fear not, Coach's Corner fans, it's only for one game.

Cherry will guide the appropriately named Team Cherry, which will feature Halifax Mooseheads forward Nathan MacKinnon as captain, in the annual CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Jan. 16 in Halifax. Former NHLer Mike McPhee will coach Team Orr and Portland Winterhawks defenceman Seth Jones will serve as captain.

"To tell you the truth, I can't remember two better captains in this game," Cherry said on a conference call Wednesday. "I've had good captains before in (Ryan) Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, but never seen two at the top like this. It's going to be interesting to see these two guys going at it head to head."

MacKinnon and Jones are the top two prospects for the 2013 draft. Forty of the top draft-eligible players will take part in the game, which made its debut in 1996.

New York Rangers forward Brad Richards is the latest locked-out NHLer to take a shot at Roman Hamrlik for calling out Donald Fehr and the NHLPA.

The Washington Capitals defenceman said during an interview in the Czech Republic last week that he is "disgusted" with how negotiations are going and suggested a vote should be taken on whether to accept the NHL's offer.

"He's frustrated. We're all frustrated," Richards told reporters in New York. "He's allowed to do that. It's frustrating to see a player and not really know what he's talking about sometimes. Encourage him to get over and get into meetings and see the other side and how they function and how it all operates, but he's allowed to say what he wants.

"It's his third (lockout). I'd be frustrated, too, and who knows how many games he's gonna play."

SURGERY FOR DEVIL

New Jersey Devils forward Adam Henrique, a finalist for the NHL's rookie of the year award in 2011-12, will have surgery on his left thumb and miss 4-6 weeks.

Henrique, who has been playing with the Albany Devils of the AHL during the lockout, hurt the ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb during a loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Sunday in Atlantic City.

In 15 games with Albany this season, Henrique has five goals and three assists. The 22-year-old had 16 goals and 35 assists in 74 games with the Devils last season.

Henrique is the latest locked-out Devil to get hurt playing outside the NHL. Defenceman Anton Volchenkov broke a bone in his left foot in mid-October while playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL.

BRIEFLY

A handful of NHLers have cameo appearances in the new Judd Apatow movie, This is 40, according to Philly.com. Scott Hartnell, Matt Carle, James van Riemsdyk and Ian Laperriere play, what else, hockey players who party with stars Megan Fox and Leslie Mann ... Vancouver Canucks goalie Cory Schneider has signed with Ambri-Piotta of the top Swiss league, according to the team's website. Anyone looking for ominous signs should note that Schneider, 26, is the Canucks' NHLPA rep.